Two days before his investiture debate, for which he has not gathered the necessary support, Alberto Núñez Feijóo held this Sunday his first mass rally as opposition leader: against a government that has not yet been formed – the current one has been in office since July 23 – and against a measure, amnesty, which was also not approved. It was a massive rally. The PP spoke out loudly, bringing all of its territorial barons to Madrid and chartering dozens of buses from different parts of Spain to fill the Plaza de Felipe II, which is actually Avenida Felipe II, which leads to the square of the surrealist painter Salvador Dalí . According to the PP, more than 45,000 people were present – later the number was increased to 60,000. According to the government delegation there are 40,000.
The PP leader barely mentioned his appointment on Tuesday in Congress, where he will seek votes for the post of government president, saying only that he was “very happy to have left home” after being “locked up for a day “was one and a half.” to prepare your speech. He arrived accompanied by two former presidents of the party who lived in La Moncloa: José María Aznar and Mariano Rajoy, while the boss Bruce Springsteen played. Although it had been said in principle that the intervention of José Luis Martínez-Almeida, mayor of the capital, and Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid, would be limited to a “welcome” as hosts, both – especially the second – called for two rallies in the crowded square and received, especially the second, long ovation. The event itself was not planned a few days ago. The leader of the PP ended the landing of his format after Aznar called for the mobilization of citizens in a tough speech in which he told Spaniards – and incidentally his party, including the president – that Spain was on the verge of “destruction”. and it was worth doing something.
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Feijóo described as a “cacicada” and “humiliation” the eventual amnesty for the events of the trial, which everyone in the square took for granted with banners, T-shirts and messages calling for “Puigdemont to go to prison.” “Sanchez, to hell.” He assured that the PSOE was no longer a “state party” and, as in his opening speeches, he invoked the old socialist guard (Felipe González, Alfonso Guerra and the recently expelled Nicolás Redondo Terreros) as martyrs have dedicated the last few days to making statements very similar to those of the right-wing leaders: “They could be expelled, they could be excluded.” They may not have a place in their party, but they will continue to have a place in the Spain of have a coexistence that they helped shape.”
The leader of the PP defined those gathered in the square, as well as all those who would have wanted to leave “but could not”, as “the Spaniards with discretion” and referred to the Constitution of 1812, saying that the country dates back more than two centuries. “On a day like today, September 24th, in 1810, the deputies of the Cortes of Cadiz held their first meeting and proclaimed that sovereignty rested in the nation. After 45 years of democracy, we Spaniards are forced to defend what they proclaimed in 1812: our sovereignty.” Feijóo won the July 23 elections, but did not achieve the necessary majority among the nation’s elected representatives to be sworn in as president become. Against this background, he said: “If you like, on Tuesday we discussed democratically whether the Spanish people voted for a change or not, but what no Spaniard voted for was a change in the constitutional system.” This was not voted on . “It is a serious and repeated fraud.” Later, when he was preparing the outcome of the investiture debate, he added: “Whether I become government president or not.” Now or soon. But what I think will remain for Spain is freedom, equality and dignity.”
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Much of Feijóo’s speech was an affirmation of his leadership to the public and to his own people, the party’s senior staff. He boasted about the kilometers covered in the election campaign, explained the regional and local administrations that the PP now heads and assured that the effort – the concessions to the extreme right that would not have been able to take power in five autonomous communities – “has deserves the mourning.” From the stage he thanked “the 33 Vox deputies, the deputy of the Canary Coalition and the deputy of the Navarro Popular Union” for “their willingness to unite to defend the equality of Spaniards”. He then added: “I believe in a Spain of free and equal citizens, where men and women are not opponents and we fight together against the nonsense of sexist violence.” I believe that sexual status does not lead to harm or discrimination of any kind . I believe that everyone can have whatever faith they want, but that is compatible with respect for culture, tradition and the contribution of Christianity to Western Europe. “I believe in it and that is why I will defend it.” During his speech, Feijóo also boasted that his party had “never” sold its principles “in exchange for an autonomous government or a mayoralty.” Listening attentively in the front row was the President of Extremadura, María Guardiola, who, before agreeing to the bipartite government with Vox, said: “I cannot allow into my government those who deny sexist violence, those who Dehumanizing immigrants and those who spread a tarp and throw the LGTBI flag in a trash can. “My promise and my land are not currency.”
According to the script, Ayuso, Almeida, Aznar and Rajoy Feijóo also praised: “The men and women of the PP will never let you down. “You are not alone,” he said to him. The aim was to show unity, highlight the divisions within socialism and portray the PP as a pineapple; And with that in mind, Aznar called Rajoy to the stage and introduced him as “my colleague and my friend.” A few years ago, when it was his friend who headed the party, he even called for “new leaderships” in front of his eyes and resigned from the honorary presidency of the PP in 2016 after attacking the FAES from the beginning, the leadership, her self-confident judgment about her successor, especially in view of the challenge to sovereignty in Catalonia.
PP family photo during the demonstration organized by the PP this Sunday in Madrid. Samuel Sanchez
The President of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, receives applause from the public attending the PP event in Madrid. Samuel Sanchez
Hundreds of PP supporters at the party’s rally in Madrid. Samuel Sanchez
Former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy during his speech at the People’s Party rally in Madrid. Samuel Sanchez
During the PP event this Sunday in Madrid, neighbors look from their balconies. Samuel Sanchez
Mariano Rajoy hugs José María Aznar during the PP event in Madrid.Samuel Sánchez
A person holds a banner during the demonstration organized by the PP this Sunday in Madrid. Alejandro Martínez Vélez (Europa Press)
Former Prime Minister José María Aznar during his speech at the PP rally in Madrid.Samuel Sánchez
A Spanish flag during the demonstration organized by the PP in Salvador Dalí Square. Alejandro Martínez Vélez (Europa Press)
The leader of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez-Feijóo, hugs the President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, in the presence of Cuca Gamarra (right) during the PP event in Madrid.Samuel Sánchez
The President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, during her speech at the PP event in Madrid. Samuel Sanchez
Supporters of the Popular Party during the event organized by the PP in the center of Madrid. THOMAS COEX (AFP)
Popular Party leader Alberto Núñez-Feijóo greets Madrid Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida (left) during the PP event in Madrid. Borja Sánchez Trillo (EFE)
Thousands of people during the event organized by the Popular Party in Salvador Dalí Square in Madrid. Alejandro Martínez Vélez (Europa Press)
Mariano Rajoy, Alberto Núñez Feijóo and José María Aznar, at the start of the PP rally in Madrid. Samuel Sanchez
Atmosphere during the demonstration in Madrid organized by the PP. Alejandro Martínez Vélez (Europa Press)
Thousands of people are taking part in the PP rally in the Plaza de Salvador Dalí in Madrid this Sunday. Samuel Sanchez
Borja Sémper (left) speaks with Esteban González Pons during the PP event in Madrid.Samuel Sánchez
Crowds of supporters during the rally in Madrid organized by the PP. Alejandro Martínez Vélez (Europa Press)
From left: Ana Botella, Carlos Mazón, Isabel Díaz Ayuso and Elías Bendodo at the PP rally this Sunday in Madrid. Samuel Sanchez
Several neighbors shelter from the sun on a terrace while watching the PP rally in Madrid. SUSANA VERA (Portal)
Popular Almería Senator Rafael Hernando (center) takes a selfie with some supporters in Madrid. JUAN BARBOSA
Supporters of the Popular Party during the action against the amnesty in the center of Madrid. SUSANA VERA (Portal)
Participants of the PP event this Sunday in Avenida Felipe II in Madrid. Borja Sánchez Trillo (EFE)
Thousands of people attend the PP event, which takes place between Avenida Felipe II and Salvador Dalí Square in the capital.Samuel Sánchez
A woman holds a Spanish flag just before the rally called by the PP in Madrid. JUAN BARBOSA
Participants of the PP event in Madrid, this Sunday, just before the start. JUAN BARBOSA
A PP supporter holds a banner during the rally in the center of Madrid this Sunday. JUAN BARBOSA
Salvador Dalí Square, minutes before the start of the PP rally against the amnesty. JUAN BARBOSA
PP sympathizers, an hour before the start of the rally against a hypothetical amnesty for those prosecuted for the “Procés”. JUAN BARBOSA
A PP supporter held a Spanish flag this morning before taking the bus from Albacete to his party’s event in Madrid against the possible amnesty for those accused of the “Procés”. Victor Fernández (Europa Press)
Aznar, in a slightly gentler tone than last week, highlighted Pedro Sánchez’s contradictions: “We know that they will say that we are protesting against something that does not exist.” [en alusión a la amnistía]. They said it with the pardons, and there were pardons. They said it with excitement. Everything they said they wouldn’t do, they did, and everything they said they refused, they will do. The coup plotters are not giving up anything and will do it again if they are allowed to. There is no excuse. “Nobody can say they didn’t know what was going to happen.”
Rajoy announced in his tongue-twister style: “We are here to say what we have not heard from any member of the government, namely that the amnesty does not fit into the constitution, which is what they said a few months ago.” Why don’t they say it now? The only difference between the clear no of then and the hollow words of today are the votes that Sánchez has to invest.” The president of the executive between 2011 and 2018 assured that “the only thing that has really improved the situation in Catalonia is the Application of Article 155 of the Constitution was.” The socialist leader then supported the intervention in Catalonia from the opposition, but Rajoy had previously tried to find a political solution and, through the mediation of the PNV, persuade Carles Puigdemont to call elections.
Ayuso, like Aznar, who last week called for citizen mobilization citing the slogan “Enough is enough,” expressed mixed views on ETA in his speech. Amid criticism of the amnesty, he assured that “the goal is the transition and the spirit of Ermua”: “That spirit that filled the streets with men and women with white hands who turned their heads and bowed their heads.” Ours Union is their defeat. Are we going to let them beat us now? Absolutely not!”. The President of the Community of Madrid dared that “after the amnesty” there would be the abolition of “the Constitution, the Crown, the security forces and the security corps, the independence of the judges, the common language and of course Madrid”. . “. “Our hearts,” he said, “hurt as never before, but we will not allow them to destroy the joyful and vital Spain that is admired around the world.”
The event ended with the national anthem. The crowd happily dispersed for an aperitif, armed with flags from Spain, the PP and some from Vox. The popular leaders also left satisfied and celebrated the “success of the mobilization”, two days after realizing that an electoral victory, as happened to the PSOE in the regional and local elections, does not guarantee the majority necessary for government.
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